The Wangaratta Contemporary Textile Award celebrates the diversity and strength of Australian textile art. Building on Wangaratta's long and prominent history of textile manufacturing, and craft making, the award furthers this unique tradition and social history by elevating and promoting the development of contemporary textile practice in Australia.
The inaugural Wangaratta Contemporary Textile Award was held in 2009, with entries received from 109 artists representing every state and territory within Australia.
Thirty-six artists were selected for the exhibition which was on display at the Wangaratta Art Gallery from 20 June – 19 July 2009. The entries submitted covered diverse materials and techniques of traditional and contemporary textile art forms, presented in a contemporary format. Liz Williamson, Head of School of Design Studies & Textile Co-ordinator, College of Fine Arts, University of New South Wales was the inaugural judge.
Winner
Mandy Gunn was the recipient of the Wangaratta Contemporary Textile Award in 2009 for her work, Fire Sticks (Burn Out Series), 2009.
Mandy Gunn, Firesticks (Burn Out Series), 2009, shredded inner tubes woven on cotton, wood, various dimensions. Winner of the Wangaratta Contemporary Textile Award 2009.